George Street Beat: Qld politics news and gossip
A former Palaszczuk staffer who was once among Queensland’s most powerful people has let fly over the Miles government’s 50-cent fares policy. THIS IS GEORGE STREET BEAT
QLD Politics
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Shane Doherty was once among Queensland’s most powerful people thanks to his loyal service to premier Annastacia Palaszczuk as her deputy chief of staff.
Having exited the top office when Premier Steven Miles moved in, Mr Doherty isn’t so keen to promote government policy.
“F*** yer 50 cent fares. They’re not much f***en good to yer if the f***en bus doesn’t f*cken stop,” he wrote on Facebook.
“It can all go get f***ed.”
DUMPED CROSSBENCHER’S NEXT MOVE
Freshly dumped from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, Member for Mirani Stephen Andrew has officially applied to join Katter’s Australian Party.
The bush-going Mr Andrew was unceremoniously dumped by Ms Hanson last week amid questions about his links to the three Katter MPs.
Now he’s put an application in to join the Katter party – which holds three central Queensland seats – before the end of the term.
While his parliamentary achievements are limited, the 55-year-old is regarded as a hardworking and well-known local member.
He repeatedly votes with the Katters and shares similar conservative ideology.
Mr Andrew lists his interests as saltwater fishing, camping; vintage Sako and Brno rifles and old stone and glass embossed bottles displaying Queensland towns.
Mr Andrew let out a loud “woo-hoo” when Speaker Curtis Pitt first called him the “independent” member for Mirani.
NO-SHOW MINISTERS
While the former and current premier are on the speakers’ circuit, Labor ministers Scott Stewart and Mick de Brenni “pulled out” of a Queensland Resources Media Club lunch – forcing organisers to refund tickets.
GSB hears Mr Stewart was on-board, but Mr de Brenni was harder to get a firm commitment from.
Organisers were apparently told he wanted to do it, but then his office changed their minds. Tickets were being sold to the event and GSB hears people are now getting their money back.
Mr de Brenni’s office said he never committed to attend, but Mr Stewart’s withdrawal was recent.
His office said the resources lunch clashed with an important education roundtable in his electorate that is scheduled to discuss staffing in the region.
GSB can’t blame the minister for putting his electorate first – polling indicates Townsville residents are white hot on booting the government.
FROSTY REUNION
Once her loyal deputy, Premier Steven Miles will rejoin former boss Annastacia Palaszczuk when they share the speaking list at the Smart Energy Council event next week.
The pair – who are no longer close confidants – are both listed in the 9am speaking spot next Tuesday in Brisbane.
Ms Palaszczuk is the Smart Energy Council’s international ambassador, having led a business mission to China earlier this year.
She endorsed Mr Miles when she was pushed from office in December, but hasn’t provided too much advice and guidance to Queensland’s 40th premier.
GSB hears Ms Palaszczuk won’t play a starring role – or any significant role – in Labor’s October election campaign.
This is perhaps predictable, given the effort Mr Miles is going to get Queenslanders to forget about the past.
BET ON BRUCE
How confident is Labor MP Bruce Saunders that he’ll buck the trend and hold Maryborough for the government?
Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie, squabbling with the third-term MP across parliament’s chamber, suggested the LNP’s candidate would defeat Mr Saunders.
“They love John Barounis more than that man,” Mr Bleijie said.
It prompted the fiery Mr Saunders – who was in the middle of receiving a gushing review by his boss Steven Miles – to shout back a challenge.
“Put ten grand on it, I’ll have a bet,” Mr Saunders shouted.
“Put an even 10, c’mon … put your money where your mouth is.”
SMITH’S WOODEN SPOON
First-term Labor MP Tom Smith was spotted walking the halls of parliament this week with a giant wooden spoon with “world’s greatest stirrer” inscribed.
GSB hears it was a gift from Caloundra MP Jason Hunt – another elected in 2020 thanks to ‘Palaszczuk’s pensioners’.
Mr Smith is a fan of attempting to get under the skin of the LNP in parliament, but they’ve often retaliated with brutal strikes.
“When is the member for Bundaberg going to realise that every time he stands up he totally embarrasses himself … a one-term wonder,” LNP housing spokesman Tim Mander screamed last year.
Regardless, the former teacher is making the most of his time in parliament.
Mr Smith won Bundaberg in 2020 by five votes.
GSB told him we wouldn’t link the wooden spoon with the likelihood he’d lose in October.
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